Reinforced stud-framed wall

Abstract

A reinforced stud-framed wall, including a bottom plate; first and second vertical studs; a member supported on the bottom plate, the member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; the first vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a first contact area, whereby a load on the first contact area is spread over a first area on the bottom plate larger than the first contact area; and the second vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a second contact area, whereby a load on the second contact area is spread over a second area on the bottom plate larger than the second contact area.

I claim: 
     
       1. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate; 
 b) an outermost vertical stud in the stud-framed wall; 
 c) a member supported on the bottom plate, the member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; and 
 d) the outermost vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a first contact area, whereby a load on the first contact area is spread over a first area on the bottom plate larger than the first contact area. 
 
     
     
       2. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the member includes an engineered lumber. 
     
     
       3. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the member includes a solid metal plate. 
     
     
       4. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the member includes a hollow metal plate. 
     
     
       5. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the outermost vertical stud is a post. 
     
     
       6. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a) a second vertical stud; and 
 b) a bottom end of the second vertical stud is supported on the member. 
 
     
     
       7. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a) a tie rod anchored to a foundation; 
 b) a bearing plate on top of the member, the bearing plate having a second contact area on the member; 
 c) the tie rod extending through the member and the bearing plate; 
 d) a fastener tightened against the bearing plate to exert tension on the tie rod; and 
 e) the bearing plate transfers a load onto the bottom plate over a second area larger than the second contact area. 
 
     
     
       8. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 7 , wherein the bearing plate is sized so that the load per unit area on the second area is less than or equal to the compression strength per unit area of the bottom plate. 
     
     
       9. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 7 , wherein the fastener includes a nut. 
     
     
       10. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 7 , wherein the fastener is axially expandable. 
     
     
       11. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 7 , wherein:
 a) the member includes hollow metal; and 
 b) the fastener is axially expandable. 
 
     
     
       12. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 7 , wherein:
 a) the member includes an engineered lumber; and 
 b) the fastener is axially expandable. 
 
     
     
       13. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a) a tie rod anchored to a foundation; and 
 b) the tie rod extends through the member. 
 
     
     
       14. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 13 , wherein the member includes engineered lumber. 
     
     
       15. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 13 , wherein the member includes solid metal. 
     
     
       16. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 13 , wherein the member includes hollow metal. 
     
     
       17. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate extending from one end of the stud-framed wall across a plurality of stud bays; 
 b) a double top plate comprising a first member and a second member on top of the first member, the first member has a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the second member; 
 c) the bottom plate has a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the second member; and 
 d) a vertical stud disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate. 
 
     
     
       18. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 17 , wherein the bottom plate includes an engineered lumber. 
     
     
       19. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 17 , wherein the bottom plate includes hollow metal. 
     
     
       20. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 17 , wherein the bottom plate includes solid metal. 
     
     
       21. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 17 , wherein the first member includes hollow metal. 
     
     
       22. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 17 , wherein the first member includes an engineered lumber. 
     
     
       23. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 17 , wherein the first member includes solid metal. 
     
     
       24. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 17 , and further comprising a tie rod anchored to a foundation and extending through the bottom plate and the double top plate. 
     
     
       25. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate; 
 b) a top plate; 
 c) a first member supported on the bottom plate; 
 d) a second member disposed below and engaging the top plate; 
 e) an outermost vertical stud in the stud-framed wall disposed between the first member and the second member, the outermost vertical stud including a bottom end portion supported by the first member and a top end portion supporting the second member; 
 f) the first member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; and 
 g) the second member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the top plate. 
 
     
     
       26. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 25 , wherein the first and second members include engineered lumbers, plastic, glass filled plastic or fiberglass. 
     
     
       27. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 25 , wherein the first and second members include hollow metal. 
     
     
       28. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 25 , wherein the first and second members include solid metal. 
     
     
       29. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 25 , and further comprising a reinforcement stud attached to the outermost vertical stud, the first reinforcement stud having a bottom end supported by the first member and a top end supporting the second member. 
     
     
       30. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 25 , and further comprising:
 a) a tie rod anchored to a foundation; 
 b) a first bearing plate on top of the first member, the bearing plate having a first contact area on the first member; 
 c) the tie rod extending through the first member and the first bearing plate; 
 d) a fastener tightened against the first bearing plate to exert tension on the tie rod; and 
 e) the first bearing plate transferring a load onto the bottom plate over a second area larger than the first contact area. 
 
     
     
       31. The reinforced stud-framed wall as in  claim 25 , wherein:
 a) a second vertical stud is disposed between the first member and the second member; and 
 b) a bottom end of the second vertical stud is supported on the first member and a top end of the second vertical stud supporting the second member. 
 
     
     
       32. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate; 
 b) a double top plate comprising a first member and a second member on top of the first member, the second member has a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the first member; 
 c) a third member supported on the bottom plate; 
 d) a fourth member disposed below and engaging the first member; 
 e) first and second vertical studs disposed between the third member and the fourth member, the first and second vertical studs having respective bottom ends supported by the third member and respective top ends supporting the fourth member; 
 f) the third member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; and 
 g) the fourth member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the first member; 
 h) a bearing plate on top of the second member, the bearing plate having a first contact area on the second member; 
 i) a tie rod extending through the first and second members and the bearing plate; 
 j) a fastener tightened against the bearing plate to exert tension on the tie rod; and 
 k) the bearing plate transferring a load onto the first member over a second area larger than the first contact area. 
 
     
     
       33. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate; 
 b) a double top plate comprising a first member and a second member on top of the first member; 
 c) a third member supported on the bottom plate; 
 d) a fourth member disposed below and engaging the first member; 
 e) first and second vertical studs disposed between the third member and the fourth member, the first and second vertical studs having respective bottom ends supported by the third member and respective top ends supporting the fourth member; 
 f) the third member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; and 
 g) the fourth member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the first member; 
 h) a fifth member disposed on top of the second member; 
 i) a bearing plate on top of the fifth member, the bearing plate having a first contact area on the fifth member; 
 j) a tie rod extending through the first, second and fifth members and the bearing plate; 
 k) a fastener tightened against the bearing plate to exert tension on the tie rod; and 
 l) the bearing plate transferring a load onto the fifth member over a second area on the second member larger than the first contact area. 
 
     
     
       34. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate; 
 b) a top plate; 
 c) a first member supported on the bottom plate; 
 d) a second member disposed below and engaging the top plate; 
 e) first and second vertical studs disposed between the first member and the second member, the first and second vertical studs having respective bottom ends supported by the first member and respective top ends supporting the second member; 
 f) the first member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; 
 g) the second member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the top plate; and 
 h) a metal post disposed between the first and second members, the metal post being next to the first vertical stud. 
 
     
     
       35. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate; 
 b) a top plate; 
 c) a first member supported on the bottom plate; 
 d) a second member disposed below and engaging the top plate; 
 e) first and second metal posts disposed between the first member and the second member, the first and second metal posts having respective bottom flanges supported by the first member and respective top flanges supporting the second member; 
 f) the first member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; 
 g) the second member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the top plate; and 
 h) first and second vertical studs disposed adjacent respective first and second metal posts, the first and second vertical studs having respective bottom ends supported by the respective bottom flanges and respective top ends supporting the respective top flanges. 
 
     
     
       36. The stud-framed wall as in  claim 35 , wherein the first and second vertical studs are bolted to the respective first and second metal posts. 
     
     
       37. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate; 
 b) first and second vertical studs; 
 c) a first member supported on the bottom plate, the first member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; 
 d) the first vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the first member with a first contact area; and 
 e) the second vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the first member with a second contact area; 
 f) first and second reinforcement studs attached to the respective first and second vertical studs; 
 g) a bridge member operably supported by respective top ends of the first and second reinforcement studs; 
 h) a tie rod anchored to a foundation; 
 i) a bearing plate supported by the bridge member; 
 j) the tie rod extending through the bridge member and the bearing plate; and 
 k) a second member disposed between the bridge member and the top ends of the reinforcement studs, the second member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the first and second reinforcement studs, the second member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bridge member. 
 
     
     
       38. The stud-framed wall as in  claim 37 , wherein the second member includes engineered lumber. 
     
     
       39. The stud-framed wall as in  claim 37 , wherein the second member includes metal. 
     
     
       40. The stud-framed wall as in  claim 37 , and further comprising:
 a) a third member disposed between the bridge member and the bearing plate; and 
 b) the third member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bridge member. 
 
     
     
       41. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate; 
 b) first and second vertical studs; 
 c) first and second members supported on the bottom plate, the first and second members having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate, the first and second members having respective first and second contact areas on the bottom plate; 
 d) the first and second vertical studs having respective bottom ends supported on the respective first and second members with respective third and fourth contact areas, whereby respective loads on the first and second contact areas are spread over fifth and sixth areas on the bottom plate encompassed by the third and fourth contact areas; 
 e) third and fourth vertical studs attached to the respective first and second vertical studs; and 
 f) the third and fourth studs have respective bottom ends spaced above the respective first and second members, whereby load on the third and fourth studs is transferred to the respective first and second vertical studs. 
 
     
     
       42. A reinforced stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a bottom plate; 
 b) a first vertical stud attached to a reinforcement stud; 
 c) a member supported on the bottom plate, the member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; and 
 d) the first vertical stud and the reinforcement stud having respective bottom ends supported on the member with respective first contact area and second contact area, whereby a load on the first contact area and the second contact area are spread over respective first area and second contact area on the bottom plate larger than the first contact area and the second contact area. 
 
     
     
       43. A stud-frame wall, comprising:
 a) a vertical stud having an end; 
 b) a horizontal member having opposite first and second edges; 
 c) a horizontal wood part; 
 d) the horizontal member being disposed between the end of the vertical stud and the horizontal wood part, the end of the vertical stud engaging the horizontal member and being offset from the first and second edges; and 
 e) the horizontal member has a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the wood part. 
 
     
     
       44. The stud-framed wall as in  claim 43 , wherein the horizontal member is engineered lumber, solid metal plate, hollow metal plate, recycled plastic building material, glass-filled plastic or fiberglass. 
     
     
       45. The stud-framed wall as in  claim 43 , wherein the horizontal wood part is a top plate, bottom plate, subfloor, cross-laminated timber panel or wood beam. 
     
     
       46. A stud-framed wall, comprising:
 a) a planar metal bearing plate; 
 b) a member supporting the planar metal bearing plate, the planar metal bearing plate transferring a load onto the member; 
 c) a wood part supporting the member; 
 d) first, second and third vertical studs with respective bottom ends supported on the member; 
 e) a tie-rod extending through the wood part, the member and the planar metal bearing plate; 
 f) a fastener securing the planar metal bearing plate to the tie-rod; and 
 g) the member has a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the wood part.